Bats in Utah

Are there bats in Utah? If you spend time outside during the autumn evenings, you probably know the answer to this question, as it is not uncommon to see bats flapping around in the moonlight on crisp fall evenings. Should you be worried?

If you see bats swooping around your home, don’t panic, but do keep an eye on things.

Bats are an important part of a healthy and balanced ecosystem, especially when it comes to pest control. They eat large numbers of nuisance insects, including moths and mosquitoes, but they can also infest Utah attics and crawlspaces in their search for a place to hibernate during the winter.

How do you keep bats outside where they belong?

Utah Bat Species

Bats aren’t all that interested in people and tend to stay away from humans whenever possible. While they’re known for being creepy and spreading disease, they are overall harmless if they give us space and vice versa.

There are 18 bat species that call Utah home, including:

Overall, bats are highly beneficial and very fascinating. They help control a variety of nasty pests, including moths, mosquitoes, beetles, and crickets. The problem? Bats can cause damage (and spread disease) if they invite themselves inside your home.

Signs of Bats Inside

If you’re concerned you may have bats in your home; there are several things to look out for:

• Watch for bats leaving your house around the roof or attic around sunset, and listen for the high-pitched chirping sounds they make
• Listen for sounds of squeaking or scratching inside your home
• Keep an eye out for droppings both inside and outside
• Odor and staining in or around your insulation (especially in the attic)

As you can probably tell, it would be easy to mistake a rodent issue for a bat issue or a bat issue for a rodent issue. If you’re located in Utah, and you’re not sure if you’re dealing with bats or something else, Thorn will send a specialist out to determine precisely what pest is plaguing you.

Damage Caused by Bats

The damage bats can cause varies depending on the severity of the issue. Again, bats are easily confused for other pests, especially rats and mice, so it will be necessary to thoroughly inspect and attempt to get visual confirmation.

If bats choose your attic or crawlspace as a winter roosting spot, you might notice bat droppings (also called guano) piling up or staining your insulation. You might also notice a strong and distinct odor, not to mention the sleep you lose if you can hear them rustling and squeaking up there!

Bats can transmit disease, especially if they infest in large numbers. If you suspect you have a bat issue, it’s important not to procrastinate when it comes to getting rid of them.

How to Keep Bats Out of Your Attic

You’re not powerless when it comes to keeping bats out of your attic, and if you feel overwhelmed with the process of keeping bats out of your house, take the following steps to discourage bats from settling in your home:

Seal Your Home

Find where bats are entering and seal those spaces up, but make sure the bats have left before you seal the hole up. Otherwise, you could end up with dead bats trapped in the attic, and that can create some seriously stinky smells.

If you’re sealing gaps around your home, focus primarily on the areas where your pipes and electrical cables enter through the walls. If bats are already inside, consider using netting or one-way doors to allow the bats to leave but not re-enter.

Reduce Food and Water Sources

Considering bats love insects, try to keep your exterior lights off at night. Exterior lights draw insects in and invite bats to come near your home to catch a bite to eat. You may also find bats attracted to your bird nectar feeders, pond, or fountain. While eliminating these features is not always possible, reducing attractants like these can help prevent bats from hanging around if they bother you.

Install a Bat Box

Bats are looking for somewhere warm and cozy to spend the cold months, and if insects like mosquitoes bother you during the summer, you may want to encourage the bats to stick around.

Keep the bats nearby but outside where they belong by offering them a place to stay that isn’t your attic or crawlspace: a bat box. These boxes can be mounted on the side of your home or a nearby tree or structure (like a shed). It provides a warm and protected space for bats to stay when they aren’t gobbling up pesky insects.


Are Bats Protected in Utah?

Due to their important role in the ecosystem, yes, bats are a protected species in Utah. They cannot be killed or even removed from your home without a special permit. If bats have moved into your home, Thorn will use our know-how and science-backed approach to wildlife removal to minimize risk to you and your family while still doing what’s best for Utah's amazing bat populations.

Because bats consume large amounts of pest insects (including agricultural pests) they’re a friendly creature we want to see more of here in Utah. As such, we must do all we can to protect them so they’re around for many years to come.

Bat Removal in Utah

Since bats are protected by Utah state law, getting rid of bats in an attic isn’t easy. It’s a job that needs to be handled with planning and care.

If you think you have bats getting into your Utah home this fall, it’s time to address the issue before they get too cozy. Contact Thorn, and we’ll help you determine whether you have an interior bat issue and what the best course of action is.